Hike to Sawtooth Lake
10 Miles
1720 Feet
Photography, Snowshoeing, Hiking
Intermediate
Summer, Autumn
Out-and-Back
The Sawtooths are famous for their jagged peaks, alpine forests, and rushing rivers that create a truly pristine beauty.
The trail to Sawtooth Lake is a couple miles from Stanley at the Iron Creek Trailhead. The hike is ten miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1720 feet culminating in the legendary Sawtooth Lake . This hike is most easily done in the warmest parts of summer as during the Spring and Fall there is a lot of snow. So much snow that even in the heart of Summer there are times where the snow is knee deep.
Depending on the trail conditions, finding Sawtooth Lake can be difficult, so an understanding of geography and a topographical map are crucial.
The lake is worth it. Snuggled at the base of Mt. Regan, Sawtooth Lake is engulfed by the surrounding mountains. And if you have the energy, there is a hike that takes you to a vista above all the Sawtooths.
Here are the coordinates for the lake:
44.1722° N, 115.0637° W
For an overnight trip, check out this backpacking adventure.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Reviews
Overall rating:
Great Alpine Lake
We enjoyed our hike up to Sawtooth Lake. The lake itself is gorgeous but some of the mountains seen from the trail are even more spectacular.
Beautiful Hike
I perfect summer hike! Be sure to stop at Alpine Lake (another beautiful mountain lake) along the way.
